TAMPA BAY WATCH
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Our Mission

Tampa Bay Watch is dedicated to fostering a healthy Tampa Bay watershed through community-driven restoration projects, education programs, and outreach initiatives.

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Discovery Center

Explore our educational space on the St. Pete Pier, featuring interactive exhibits, daily programs, and a touch tank full of animals from the estuary!

Plan Your Visit →

Together, we can bring life to the bay.

It takes a community to make lasting change and protect the future of Tampa Bay’s ecosystem.

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Volunteer Calendar

Check out all of our upcoming volunteer opportunities.

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Become A Member

Are you passionate about protecting our waterways? Take a stand for Tampa Bay’s future.

Membership

Our annual events are designed to educate, entertain, and strengthen the community.

Host an unforgettable occasion at our beautiful waterfront event space.

Weddings and Events →

Field Trips

Empowering youth through hands-on education

Estuary EDventures’ field trips are hosted at the Tampa Bay Watch Auer Marine Education Center in Tierra Verde, Florida. Field trips are facilitated by experienced educators with degrees in biology, marine biology, and environmental sciences and are aligned to Next Generation Sunshine State Standards. Programs are designed to engage students in hands-on, experiential labs and field activities focused on the estuarine environment. Whether seining, dissecting, or identifying, students learn basic science principles and leave feeling inspired. Financial assistance available for qualifying schools.

PROGRAM DETAILS

Field trip offerings

Cost: $150-$250 per program 

Boat Otter Trawl
Students embark on a trip across bay waters aboard our 32’ USCG-certified classroom vessel. They observe the collection method known as trawling, and encounter various species of the bay. This lab is for K-college and is $250 per class.
Coastal Cleanup
Students participate in a local beach cleanup, learning about the impact of pollution. They report their findings to the Ocean Conservancy’s global cleanup database. This lab is for 2nd-college. Participants must provide transportation to the beach site.
Microplastics
Students learn about the concerns of plastic in the environment. They use scientific tools to filter water samples in search of plastics, participating in a state-wide citizen science project. This lab is for 7th-college.
Invertebrate Investigation
Students investigate the characteristics of invertebrates, and concepts of morphology and behavior, while becoming closely acquainted with some of our local species. This lab is for K-8th.
Plankton Encounter
Students collect water samples and use microscopes to discover the life within a water drop. Students learn about some of the smallest plants and animals in the marine environment and their importance. This lab is for K-12th.
Sea Turtle Nesting
Students engage in a mock sea turtle nest monitoring and excavation, learning about basic sea turtle ecology and conservation efforts. This lab is for 6th-12th.
Seine the Bay
Students wade into shallow seagrass beds, exploring the habitat and using nets to collect marine organisms. This lab is for 2nd-college.
Squid Dissection
Through a dissection, students learn about the anatomy of squid and their unique adaptations. This lab is for 5th-12th.
Water Quality
Students learn about water quality parameters used to measure the health of our local waters. They use scientific tools to test water samples and collect data, participating in a worldwide citizen science project. This lab is for 6th-12th.
Oyster Biodiversity
Students explore life within an oyster community. During this lab, students learn about the importance of oysters as a habitat of the Tampa Bay estuary, taking a close look at clusters of oyster reefs and the various invertebrates and fishes that make it home. (*Grades 4 and up)

Full-day programs

Cost: $400 per program 

Kayak Tampa Bay

Students paddle through the pristine Shell Key Preserve and learn about the unique estuarine habitats.

Snorkel Tampa Bay

Students immerse themselves in the bay, exploring the various habitats and their inhabitants. Participants must provide their own snorkel gear.

Schedule A Field Trip

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RELATED EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Camps
School Outreach
FIELD TRIP RESOURCES

Email Katie Mastenbrook at [email protected] with questions about field trip experiences.

For additional information on our education program and offerings, download the Education flyer below.

Click here

If your desired field trip dates are unavailable, check out our Discovery Center offerings on the St. Pete Pier

Visit the link below to learn more

Discovery Center